I felt pretty good to start the race off. It may have had to do with the cool temperature and the relatively good sleep for 7 hours in a tent. The race started at 4:30 am. and it was 17°C (I think it was the coolest temperature I have experienced in Thailand to date!) I started off at a good pace running the first kilometer in 4:00. Around 5 km. into the race I began to feel weak for some reason and I began to think if I would be able to maintain this pace. After about 1 km. I started to feel better as I was running with a Thai guy who was maintaining a good pace. At the 9 km. mark I took a gel and then passed the 10 km. mark in 41:02. Just before the turn around point I dropped the guy who I had been running with for 9 km.'s or so. Then right after the turn around point at 13.5 km. I passed two other guys. After that it was clear sailing to the finish. It was really encouraging having my Thai friends, other runners (heading the other direction on the out and back course), spectators and volunteers cheer for me along the course. This race really had a nice community feel to it with the friendly volunteers and school children performing various dances and performances along the course (starting at 4:00 am.!). I finished in a near personal best time of 1:25:52 (1:30 off my personal best of 1:24:22 set in Bejing in 2011). Supper happy with the result, I know 1:23:00 is possible...I placed 7/639 ovarall and 3/34 in the 18-29 age group and got a trophy.
Route:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5794730 Results:
http://results.championchip-thailand.com/cbm2013/s...